Maharashtra BJP announces date for MTHL inauguration, MMRDA says work can't get over by Dec 25

Mumbai, Nov 21 (PTI) The BJP's Maharashtra unit has claimed that the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), touted as India's longest sea bridge, will be thrown open for public use on December 25, but the government agency implementing the project said although it is 97 per cent complete, the remaining work is not likely to get over by that time.

The MTHL is a six-lane 21.8 km road bridge between Sewri (Mumbai) and Chirle (Navi Mumbai). The project, being implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), will link south Mumbai with Navi Mumbai township. Once completed, it would be the longest sea bridge in India and would cater to 70,000 vehicles daily, officials said.

On Monday, the Maharashtra unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said on X that the "Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sea Link" will be inaugurated on December 25 this year, on the birth anniversary of the late prime minister after whom it is to be named.

However, when contacted, an MMRDA source said, "The construction work of the sea link is nearly 97 per cent complete. But the work of electrification, erection of poles on the bridge, toll booths and integration of the entire system is yet to be done." "Some of the work orders for erecting polls and others were issued in June this year. The project cannot be completed by December this year," the source said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the project a few years back. The work was partially affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the ruling BJP has announced the date of the MTHL inauguration, the Maharashtra government has not made any announcement about its inauguration yet.

In May this year, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis visited the MTHL and drove a vehicle on the bridge, also known as the Sewri-Nhava Sheva Trans Harbour Link. PTI ND NP